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Every rivet is mission-critical

Published: 6 July 2007 by CA

I am "CA" Atreya (PMP, MBA), the author of this blog. I help businesses in Atlantic Canada achieve their BHAG successfully. You may subscribe to this blog using a feed reader (RSS).

I met up with a former colleague who currently works for an airline. During our conversation, he made a comment. I’ll paraphrase: “Before I joined this airline, airplanes were just a means of transportation. Now my perception about them has completely changed. Every rivet is mission-critical.” Isn’t it true? I mean, rivets are one of the minutest parts in the airplane, but each and every one of them is critical to the objective of the plane: flying safely. Check your business.

Your airplane, your business

Here are some questions you need to answer to ensure your rivets (read employees) are mission-critical:

  1. Do your employees see themselves as being mission critical to the working of your organization?
  2. More importantly, do you treat your employees as if they were critical to the success of your organization?
  3. The sole purpose of every component (including rivets) in the aircraft is to ensure the airplane files safely. What is the objective of every employee in your organization?
  4. What is your motivation in running a business and what is your employees’ motivation for working there?
  5. Each and every employee has a role to play in the organization’s growth. Define them and do not move them around too much. You wouldn’t switch roles of the components in the aircraft, would you? Then why would you do that in business? (I won’t buy your argument about not equating an airplane to your business.)
  6. And one final point: Does your rewards [to employees] promote the company goal? This is one area that businesses make a lot of mistakes. Rewarding behavior A while hoping for B.

What are your thoughts on this?

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5 Comments »

  • Network Marketing Posts said:

    Welcome to the July 10, 2007 edition of carnival of network marketing. Barbra Sundquist presents Where Does Your Website Rank in Google? posted at HomeBusinessWiz. CA presents Every rivet is mission-critical posted at Atlantic Canada’s Small Business Blog, saying, “Rivets are one of the minutest parts in the airplane, but each and every one of them is critical to the objective of the plane – flying safely. Check your business. Are your rivets

    # 30 November 1999 at 12:00 am
  • Startup Spark said:

    CA presents Every rivet is mission-critical posted at Atlantic Canada’s Small Business Blog.

    # 30 November 1999 at 12:00 am
  • The Married Guy Cook said:

    to find ways to incorporate into their businesses. But you don’t just “do” creativity, or delegate it to specific “creative” individuals - you generate it using tried and tested business thinking.” Atlantic Canada’s Small Business Blog Every rivet is mission-critical “Rivets are one of the minutest parts in the airplane, but each and every one of them is critical to the objective of the plane – flying safely. Check your business. Are your rivets mission critical.

    # 30 November 1999 at 12:00 am
  • Ladies Financial Freedom said:

    Art of Money has posted his June Stats and Earnings to keep track of how close he is getting to his $100 a day blogging project. CA has at Atlantic Canada’s Small Business Blog has a great post titledEvery Rivet is Mission-Critical. He uses the comparison of a plane where every rivet is critical to the safety of the plane staying in the air and the little things you can do to make your business successful. Blogging Away Debt has managed to get their debt

    # 30 November 1999 at 12:00 am
  • The Engaging Brand said:

    Management Training: The Collected Sayings of Benjamin Franklin?s Grandfather posted at Yoest.com“It’s hell to work for a nervous boss — especially when you are the one who is making him nervous.”” CA presents Every rivet is mission-critical posted at Atlantic Canada’s Small Business Blog. David presents It’s The Communication, Stupid! posted at Guideye.com, saying, “Every problem in business- with the possible exception of actual theft – boiled down to one thing: communication

    # 30 November 1999 at 12:00 am

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